To celebrate 400 years of the publishing of the King James Bible a special tour organised by the Bible Society is taking place in towns and cities all over the country, including Sudbury, a place with a great Christian heritage.

People are being asked to come along to a special stand hosted by Stour Valley Vineyard Church at the Farmers’ Market between 11-2.30pm on Thursday 23 June.

When they turn up they will be given a ScribePod to handwrite a pair of verses which will become part of a unique edition of the Bible.

The verses will be written with digital pens, meaning that everyone’s contribution will be put together in a searchable online archive. Everyone will be able to see the whole Bible in handwritten format, and share their verses with their friends, online.

The King James Bible was the first Bible ever to be made available in English. Up to that point it had only been available in Latin.

Senior Pastor of Stour Valley Vineyard Church Andrew Stewart-Darling says: “As still the most sold book in the world the Bible’s relevance for everyday life continues to be read as a continual source of guidance, hope and comfort for millions and millions of people. It is hard to deny its importance for helping to shape our own personal ethical and moral codes, whether we are aware of it or not. It has also been feted as the inspiration behind our modern educational, political and legal systems. But what amazes me most is that I come across people who don’t even know that God has a book out! Hopefully this will help change that a little in a fun interactive way.”

Stour Valley Vineyard Church is contemporary in style with traditional beliefs. It meets weekly 10.30 am at the Delphi Centre, Newton Road in Sudbury, apart from the first Sunday of the month. Service includes a practical talk from the Bible and an opportunity for personal prayer. There are also lively kids and young people activities. Arrive early for fresh coffee and doughnuts.

The People’s Bible started on the 19th June in Edinburgh Castle and will end at Westminster Abbey on the 16th November.